HOME SAFETY TIPS

June is Home Safety Month, which is dedicated to educating and empowering families to make their homes safer. Each year, 21 million medical visits and over 20,000 deaths are due to accidents in the home, according to the Home Safety Council. The federal government cannot legislate safety, but it can bring about awareness of these dangers to help homeowners take initiative. In partnership with the National Safe Kids Campaign, the Topeka Fire Department, and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, below are simple things you can do everyday to help save lives and prevent injuries to make your home a safer place.

Protecting Children

Research shows more than 4.5 million children are injured in the home every year. Taking simple prevention measures and closely supervising your children can help protect them from common household hazards, such as fires, burns, drowning, suffocation, choking, firearm injury, poisoning and falls.

• Kitchen – Keep knives, glasses and scissors out of reach. Lock up cleaning supplies, pet food, medicine, vitamins, beer, wine and liquor. Cook on the back stoves whenever possible. Turn in pot handles so that they do not hang over the edge of the stove.

• Bathroom – Mix hot and cold water in the tub and test it with your wrist before kids get in. Never leave the room when kids are in the tub. Keep razors, scissors, curling irons and hair dryers out of reach.

• Around the Home – Keep guns locked, unloaded and out of reach of children. Put guards or stops on windows that are not emergency exits. Make sure small items and toy parts won’t choke kids by using a small parts tester (available at Safe Kids Resource Catalog online).  Cover electrical outlets not in use. Be sure to lock matches and lighters away.

• Emergency Numbers – Keep a list of emergency numbers by every phone. Call 911 if a child collapses or stops breathing. Otherwise, if you think a child has been poisoned, call 1-800-222-1222.

• Childproofing – Get on your hands and knees. Look at every room as your child would. Ask yourself what looks interesting and what can be reached. Check for small things kids can choke on. Know that “childproofing” is not perfect. That’s why it’s important to watch your kids all the time, especially in the kitchen and bathroom.

• Spot the Tot – From 2001-2003, an average of 229 children per year died after being struck by a vehicle in a driveway or parking area. Take a five-second walk around your car to check for kids, toys and pets before entering the car and starting the motor. Firmly hold the hand of children when in driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks.  

Contributed by the National Safe Kids Campaign

Outside of the Home

The appearance and lack of security around your home can be inviting to intruders. Ensure your home’s safety by securing the outside and tracking your personal items.   

• Check the locks – Be sure to keep sturdy doors.  Install dead bolt locks, secure sliding glass doors.  Lock all windows.

• Have solid outside doors – Outside doors should be metal or solid wood.  Ensure doors fit in their frames.  Install a peep-hole in all entry doors to see who is outside.

• Check the outside – Install outside lights, and keep them on at night.  Prune back shrubbery from doors and windows.  Clearly display your house number for police and emergency vehicles.

• When you travel – Create the illusion that you’re at home.  Get timers for your lights to turn on and off throughout the evening.  Have paper and mail delivery stopped.

• Make a list of your valuables – like TVs, VCRs, stereos, computers, jewelry, etc.  Take photos of items, and list serial numbers and descriptions.  Check with law enforcement about engraving your valuables through Operation Identification.

Contributed by the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office

Thanks to the following organizations for their contributions to these tips:

The Home Safety Council, Safe Kids Kansas, the National Safe Kids Campaign, and the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office.